Sunday, May 31, 2009

Voter Intimidation in PA Update

Apparently, it is perfectly acceptable behavior to stand in front of a polling place in a military-type uniform and brandish a weapon…that is if you belong to the “New Black Panther Party” and perform these actions in Philadelphia.

According to the Washington Times, the Justice Department under the Bush administration had sought to press charges against the three men involved in the incident. Now, a politically appointed bureaucrat under the new administration has successfully sought a reversal on the investigation and to clear the accused of nearly all wrongdoing.

According to the story, the Justice Department had even received a sworn affidavit from a 1960s Civil Rights leader who had witnessed the behavior of those involved. The Civil Rights leader characterized the incident as “the most blatant form of voter intimidation.”

This incident boils down to politically appointed bureaucrats overruling career lawyers/prosecutors in the Justice Department. Particularly galling is Attorney General Eric Holder’s clear flip-flop on his own testimony during his confirmation hearings. Holder called the career lawyers in the Justice Department his “teachers” and described them as the “backbone” of the department. When asked about their roll during his confirmation hearing, Holder stated that if he was confirmed as AG, he would “listen to them, respect them, and make them proud of the vital goals we will pursue together.”

I doubt many at Justice are proud of this action (or lack there of) and would hardly feel respected by pulling the plug on an investigation that they had worked on since the General Election in 2008. Especially considering the motivation for stopping the proceedings is likely political in nature with nothing at all to do with justice.

Have we really slid so far backwards that we will now allow voter intimidation and the brandishing of weapons at polling places across Pennsylvania? This is a disastrous decision that disrespects the sacrifices made so that all Americans could be treated equally.